Chairs:           

Paul Kymissis, M.D., FAGPA, Director of Psychiatry, The Children's Village,

Dobbs Ferry, New York

Avril Lindsay, CSW, The Children's Village, Dobbs Ferry, New York

Open to participants with less than four years of group psychotherapy experience

This workshop will explore the use of specially trained dogs in group psychotherapy in an adolescent program in a residential treatment setting. The role of the therapist and dog will be discussed and the effects on the group process of the presence of the dog will be further described. Participants will be invited to present their experience.

didactic-sharing of work experiences-demonstration-experiential

Course References:

1. Barba, B. (1995). The Positive Influence of Animals: Animal-Assisted Therapy in Acute

    Care. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 9(4), 199-202.

2. Mallon, G. (1994). Some of our Best Therapists Are Dogs. Child and Youth Care Forum,

    23(2), 89-101.

3. Senter, S., Ross, S. & Mallon, G. People and Animals: A Therapeutic Animal-Assisted

    Activities Manual for schools, agencies and recreational Centers.